Albacore flies

[Denwor54]

Here's the end result

 

[SilverFly]

I tend to troll a little slower than many tuna folks, but still I have to think that the trolling speed has to have some effect on movement, especially with articulated patterns. Slight changes of course, waves, fluctuation of speed etc probably helps offset that a tiny bit.

Personally I believe that when it comes to trolling, size and profile has more to do with success than movement.

With the exception of cedar plugs, virtually every traditional troll lure I use offshore doesnt offer much in the way of "movement".

Closest thing to a fly that I can think of off the top of my head would be swim baits with eel type tails. They track ultra straight, but the tail definitely flutters quite a bit. I think that's why I tie so many flies with hackle in the back. I figure that hackle will flutter and move in a similar fashion even when trolled.

Nick, any thoughts on troll lures/flies generating bubbles? I know it's definitely a thing with marlin, but not sure with albacore or other tunas. Not that I haven't tried. One day last year a marlin was sighted in the area. Naturally that got me all spun up, and I reeled in the Kraken from waaay back (BF territory) to the third wave back. I was working it pretty hard. It'd pop out of the wave, lurch forward suddenly as it shed a bunch of water. Then hit the water again, drift sideways then take off again leaving a bubble trail with the hackle tentacles waving. Looked so good, not sure Mr Stickface could've resisted if we crossed one. Can't wait to try that again in a non-sucky albacore season. @Cabezon already proved the propwash concept with albies.

 

[Nick Clayton]

Nick, any thoughts on troll lures/flies generating bubbles? I know it's definitely a thing with marlin, but not sure with albacore or other tunas. Not that I haven't tried. One day last year a marlin was sighted in the area. Naturally that got me all spun up, and I reeled in the Kraken from waaay back (BF territory) to the third wave back. I was working it pretty hard. It'd pop out of the wave, lurch forward suddenly as it shed a bunch of water. Then hit the water again, drift sideways then take off again leaving a bubble trail with the hackle tentacles waving. Looked so good, not sure Mr Stickface could've resisted if we crossed one. Can't wait to try that again in a non-sucky albacore season. @Cabezon already proved the propwash concept with albies.

View attachment 2434

Interesting question Guy. Can't say I've ever really given much thought to bubbles. I know there are saltwater troll lures designed to that end, I'm just not personally familiar with them.

I've heard bubbles discussed by tuna anglers in regards to prop wash, but not much that I can recall referring to lures

 

[Jim F.]

I had posted this over at the other place,

Where did you get those Felix the Cat eyes, Randy?

 

[clarkman]

Where did you get those Felix the Cat eyes, Randy?

I can't remember, but they're Surface Seducer Dragon Eyes

 

[clarkman]

View attachment 2204Here's the end result

Nice. I like having the longer overlapping sections that you can really cinch down.

 

[Jim F.]

I can't remember, but they're Surface Seducer Dragon Eyes

Thanks!

 

[Denwor54]

Bubbles can make a difference but my experience is with yellowfin skip jack and sailfish. I will look thru South Pacific stuff, I used to make custom slider/popper heads for trolling that we drilled holes in. Cam signer heads had three holes in them an had a lot of drag when trolled. By putting the slider head there was less drag and by drilling more holes and angling the holes outward it increased the bubble trail diameter and length. It was also fun to watch when trolling fast the fly would exit the surface and reinterpret the water and it would send sum spray out the holes and this got a lot of attention from fish and birds unfortunately. Here’s a mangled fly with my homemade head, wahoo and yellow fin and a silky shark were landed on this fly.

 

[SilverFly]

View attachment 2556Bubbles can make a difference but my experience is with yellowfin skip jack and sailfish. I will look thru South Pacific stuff, I used to make custom slider/popper heads for trolling that we drilled holes in. Cam signer heads had three holes in them an had a lot of drag when trolled. By putting the slider head there was less drag and by drilling more holes and angling the holes outward it increased the bubble trail diameter and length. It was also fun to watch when trolling fast the fly would exit the surface and reinterpret the water and it would send sum spray out the holes and this got a lot of attention from fish and birds unfortunately. Here’s a mangled fly with my homemade head, wahoo and yellow fin and a silky shark were landed on this fly.View attachment 2555

So, you're saying I have a chance.

 

[Denwor54]

Thanks for bringing this up, I need to make some of these heads. With the uv stuff I have access to I should be able to wip these up pretty quick. With 5 minute epoxy the workin time made it hard to be productive. If I get some time this weekend I will put a couple together and take a couple pics.

 

[Denwor54]

Also we would troll with 4 rods and the bubble heads would get most of the hook ups. In need to look at making a reduced version with the similar effect.

 

[jasmillo]

Experimental tuna fly. I have been fishing for tuna 2 whole times so I am ready to experiment, right ?

Baitfish pattern. Mostly marabou and schlappen. I tied the back half of the body reverse spider style with 4 large schlappen feathers. The thought process is that creates a backwards cone to act as a natural magic head to impart movement on the tail. No idea it it will work that way, especially at trolling speeds. Fun to tie anyway.

 

[SilverFly]

Experimental tuna fly. I have been fishing for tuna 2 whole times so I am ready to experiment, right ?

Baitfish pattern. Mostly marabou and schlappen. I tied the back half of the body reverse spider style with 4 large schlappen feathers. The thought process is that creates a backwards cone to act as a natural magic head to impart movement on the tail. No idea it it will work that way, especially at trolling speeds. Fun to tie anyway.

View attachment 4522

I've been out more times than I can count and have thrown out about half of my fly theories on these fish. Even so, I feel safe in saying that would thing kill on the troll if not legit cast/retrieved. The colors are all albacore approved - that's a fact.

 

[Jake Watrous]

Well, I'm done trying my tuna tubes for this year.
This is the second and last batch.